Expert Says Oil from the Gulf Spill Unlikely to Hit the Outer Banks

Posted on July 29, 2010

Outer Banks Sunset

The Gulf oil spill has been a national concern for weeks, and now that the well has been capped, some more positive news is beginning to develop.

Outer Banks enthusiasts can start to breathe a little easier knowing that indicators are beginning to demonstrate oil on the OBX is unlikely.

North Carolina State University associate professor Roy He, an expert on marine sciences and coastal circulation, says it is unlikely that oil from the Gulf spill will make its way to the East Coast….and the Outer Banks.

The Virginia Pilot is reporting that Professor He said the chances are low because the damaged oil well is capped, the oil is undergoing continuous dilution and degradation, and large amounts of oil have not been seen in the Loop Current, which has the potential to carry the oil around Florida and up the Eastern Seaboard.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Everything is Different, But Nothing Has Changed

Posted on July 28, 2010

Here’s one from the Way Back Machine. 1946 in Nags Head. Amazing. Classic Outer Banks pictures are great.

Sure, the 2010 OBX is different than the 1946 OBX, more businesses, more houses, more visitors. But as much as things are different, at the core, nothing has changed.

The beaches are still beautiful (and empty most of the year), the Atlantic is still available as our playground, the history hasn’t lost any of it’s charm, there’s an abundance of nature ready for exploration…and most importantly, the OBX is still a favorite spot for vacationers to enjoy a slower pace of life and connect with friends and family.

Even if it is only once a year for a quick week, the Outer Banks can still refresh your spirit the same way it did for this lovely couple in 1946.

Classic OBX 1946

Outer Banks Shipwreck Moved to Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Posted on July 28, 2010

Outer Banks Shipwreck 2010

On Tuesday, July 20, what is believed to be the oldest shipwreck to be discovered in North Carolina slowly meandered its 7.5-ton, 17-foot-wide by 37-foot-long body along the Outer Banks’ Rt. 12 towards its new home at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village.

The wreckage was discovered on the beach in Corolla in late 2009, excavated in April 2010, and it has been temporarily stored at on the ground of the Currituck Lighthouse in preparation for its big move. The ship’s remains were loaded onto a flatbed trailer on Monday, and it set out on its journey south just after midnight on Tuesday morning. A full entourage accompanied the ship on its journey – a police escort, museum directors, members of the Park Service.

Despite some stormy weather, the ship completed the 90 mile trip and arrived at its final resting place around 4 AM.

Here’s a great slideshow of the ship and its journey.

To beach combers’ delight, pieces of the shipwreck are still showing up on the Corolla beaches.

Outer Banks Named in List Top 10 Secluded Beaches

Posted on July 28, 2010

Outer Banks Wild Horses

Yahoo Travel and Sherman Travel teamed up to create a list of the Top 10 Secluded Beaches, and the Outer Banks made the list.

Here’s what they had to say about the OBX:

Carova Beach, North Carolina - This barrier beach covers the upper stretches of the Outer Banks, North Carolina, and is the most undeveloped of an already spartan beach chain. Part of what keeps the region mellow is the lack of paved roads, with Highway 12 stopping north of Corolla. Four-wheel drive is a must, as the only route to these secluded U.S. beaches is a ride on the sand or a primitive system of dirt roads connecting vacation homes in the wooded interior. Drive slowly to see the wild horses (some are descendants of shipwrecked Spanish mustangs) that roam the protected dunes.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: World’s Largest!

Posted on July 27, 2010

The world is full of whacky tourist attractions, and it’s always a fun surprise to come across one on a road trip. Biggest ball of elastics…heck yeah. The Button Museum…count me in. A house in the shape of a UFO…quick snap a picture.

On your next drive to the Outer Banks, k…eep an eye out for the World’s Largest Hammock. Yep, that’s right, the OBX is home to the biggest hammock known to man. It is impressive and a must see for all hammock lovers…and really, who doesn’t love a hammock?

As you head south on Rt. 158 about a mile before you hit the Wright Memorial Bridge, look for signs for Nags Head Hammock. It will be tough to miss the giant hammock on your left.

World's Largest Hammock - Outer Banks

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Classic OBX

Posted on July 26, 2010

A day at the beach can build a healthy appetite pretty quickly. But it’s never fun to pack up and leave the beach to hunt down eats.

Don’t worry, Art’s Place has you covered. Just hop over the dunes and enjoy some comfort food…Art’s has a long tradition of feeding the masses on the Beach Road.

If you are in the Kitty Hawk area, be sure to stop in at Art’s for some classic beach food.

Art's Place - Outer Banks

Happy National Hammock Day from the Outer Banks

Posted on July 22, 2010

Outer Banks Hammock

Like peanut butter and chocolate, hammocks and the Outer Banks seem to be a natural fit. So, from the OBX to you and yours, happy National Hammock Day!

When: Always on July 22nd.

Summer is in full swing. It’s time to slow down and to relax. During the dog days of summer, there is no better place to slow down and relax, than on a hammock….is there ever a bad time to enjoy a hammock?

Hammock Day is appropriately celebrated right in the middle of the dog days of summer – July 3 though August 11th.

Hammock Day exists to enjoy summer as it should be enjoyed. People celebrate Hammock Day by spending as much time relaxing on it as possible. Getting out of your hammock to get a snack, or your favorite summer beverage is okay. But, it is not a day for work. Cutting the lawn is forbidden on this day. So put down the weed-eater and hop in the hammock.

The roots of Hammock Day and Hammock Day history is largely unknown. Maybe the originator was too busy napping on their hammock!?!

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Early Evening

Posted on July 21, 2010

Here’s a picture of the beach at Avalon Pier around 6 PM. Ahhhh, the Outer Banks in July. The sun may be getting low, and it may be dinner time, but don’t tell the beach bums. They are a hearty bunch that find it difficult to pull themselves from the sand. With 90+ degree heat blanketing the OBX the ocean is your best bet…even if your tummy is rumbling.

Early Evening on the Outer Banks

Lowe’s Coming to the Outer Banks?

Posted on July 21, 2010

Lowe's Logo

The Outer Banks Voice is reporting today that Lowe’s, the home improvement “mega store,” recently submitted a site plan for a store in Kill Devil Hills.

The plan calls for a 158,000-square-foot store on the “highway” between West 1^st St. and West Landing Drive. The area is already zoned commercial, so the approval process could be as straight-forward as a site plan approval, but it’s too early to tell.

Great Photo Essay of Outer Banks Professional Surfer

Posted on July 21, 2010

Jesse Hines Surfer Cover

Jesse Hines is a professional surfer and Outer Banks local that grew up riding the OBX waves. He is a seasoned veteran of the surf and the camera. Jesse has graced the cover of surf mags and been in front of the lens modeling surf apparel for years.

A recent photo essay on GetInTheVan.com does an amazing job of depicting Jesse’s prowess on the waves, but the most appealing aspect of the essay is the connection the pictures and the captions create with the person, not merely the surfer. By all accounts, Jesse is not only a great surfer, but also a good companion to share tight quarters with on a surf, or life, excursion.

Enjoy the photo essay.